Football: Afghanistan to face Maldives in Dubai

KABUL (SW): Following three international matches this year, Afghanistan would take on Maldives in a friendly football encounter later this year.

According to the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), the game would be played on June 6, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ali Raza, secretary general of the AFF, told Salam Watandar the match is part of the preparations for the forthcoming 2019 Asian Football Championship.

Afghanistan is to face a strong competitor Cambodia in the qualifying rounds for this championship. The national squad would head straight to Cambodia on June 9.

Afghanistan and Maldives have so far played thrice against each other. In the latest encounter, Afghanistan won 4-1 in the South Asian Championship in 2015. Before that, Maldives was victorious with 9-8 goals in 2014 while the first match between the two in 2013 was a goal-less draw.

On the FIFA ranking list, Afghanistan is on the 156^th slot while Maldives is ahead at 140^th slot.

ENDS